Chapter 99: Saito: Lord Sunasuke, you certainly have refined tastes.
After the usual chaos and a soak in the bath,
The family of three—no, four—sat down at the table:
Hatake Sakumo, Kakashi Hatake, Miya Kiko, and the child in her belly.
'Mom… when I came back just now…'
'Hmm?'
Miya Kiko, still eating, shot Kakashi a questioning look when he trailed off.
'Oh, it's nothing, Mom. I just choked. What I meant was, on my way back I saw Uncle chasing his son again, beating him half to death—hahaha…'
'Is that so?'
'Yeah, yeah.'
'Then do you believe that if you dare speak with food in your mouth again, I'll beat you half to death too?'
Kakashi: '!!!'
——
That night, after dinner, Miya Kiko went upstairs to rest.
Pregnant and constantly sleepy, she had lately left most of the clan affairs to others.
Downstairs, only Kakashi and Sakumo remained.
'Father, what exactly is going on? And why did you kick me under the table just now?'
With his mother upstairs, Kakashi voiced every doubt.
'Kakashi, have the villagers been pointing fingers at you too?'
'Yes. On my way home from school I noticed lots of them watching me from afar. I thought something had happened to the family and ran back as fast as I could.
So, Father, what's really going on?'
'Sigh… Kakashi, my mission failed this time.'
'Impossible!' Kakashi gasped, instinctively loud, then lowered his voice when he remembered his sleeping mother.
In his mind his father was a mighty Ninja; at home he might be reduced to a mere babysitter,
But step outside and everyone still called him Lord Sakumo!
'Nothing is impossible, Kakashi. I'm only human—I can't succeed every time.'
Seeing his son's shock, Sakumo spoke earnestly, afraid Kakashi might overestimate him.
'But… but what does that have to do with your failure?'
'Strictly speaking, nothing. Yet this mission was special—important to Konoha—and somehow word leaked.'
'So the leak caused all this?'
'Exactly. I'll report to Hokage-sama shortly. Once the Hokage Building issues a statement, it should blow over by tomorrow morning.
So, Kakashi, don't mention any of this to your mother; she needs rest.'
'Understood, Father.'
'Good. Now go get some sleep.'
——
Root underground base.
'Danzo-sama, Hatake Sakumo has gone to the Sarutobi compound,'
a Root Ninja reported, kneeling before Danzo Shimura.
'No matter. Proceed as planned. Hiruzen won't react so quickly.'
'Yes, sir!'
——
'Hokage-sama, that's the situation. For some reason the mission intel was leaked and has already spread among the villagers, inciting some extreme remarks. I beg you to issue an announcement to calm the backlash.'
Inside the Sarutobi clan head's residence, Hiruzen Sarutobi listened from the main seat as Sakumo recounted everything.
'I understand. Rest assured, Sakumo; tomorrow I'll have someone post an announcement in front of the Hokage Building. It's late—head home.'
'Yes, Hokage-sama. Excuse my intrusion.'
Sakumo bowed and left.
Once his footsteps faded,
Hiruzen picked up his pipe again and puffed clouds of smoke,
his eyes alone revealing some hidden calculation.
'Clan head, our exploding tags business has been declining for years—almost snatched away by the Hatake Clan. As Hokage, can't you step in?'
'Nonsense! As Hokage how could I do such a thing? If I did, how could I face my teacher and Shodai(1st)-sama's trust in me!'
'Sigh… Clan head, the clan's financial gap keeps widening. If you don't find a way we'll go bankrupt!'
'I'll handle the funding myself.'
'Sigh… Sakumo, you'll have to bear with me for now…'
——
The next day,
Kakashi headed to school as usual.
The streets were as noisy as the night before—no, even more people seemed to be talking.
He didn't dwell on it;
the Hokage Building staff hadn't started work yet.
Once the announcement was posted, everything would return to normal—
his father had personally assured him of that last night.
Hokage-sama had promised the statement would be out by the second morning.
Soon Kakashi reached the classroom.
As always,
the moment he stepped in, heads turned—
the price of being top of the class.
But this time felt different.
The looks his classmates gave him mirrored those of the villagers on the street.
He brushed it off; perhaps their parents had said something at home.
By tomorrow everything would be back to normal.
'Kakashi, are you all right? I heard…'
Rin Nohara's voice drifted over as he sat down.
'It's fine, Rin. Just a small issue—sorted today.'
'Oh, okay.'
——
Inside the Second Legion.
'Good morning, Lord Sunasuke!'
'Morning.'
Having slept till he woke naturally, Sunasuke answered the greetings on his way to the command office.
Open door, close door, boil water, brew tea, unfold the recliner—'Ahh bliss'
'This is the life!'
Sunasuke lay back with a contented moan.
'Time for lunch,' he mused.
With effort he opened the drawer, took out a little bell, and rang it.
'Wright Wright'
Soon the door pushed open.
Without looking, Sunasuke spoke:
'Today I want something light—just a seafood porridge. Oh, and extra sea cucumber!'
'You may go and prepare it.'
'Hm? Why are you still here?'
Eyes still closed, he counted—one second, two, three.
When no footsteps receded, he opened his eyes—then immediately shut them again, muttering fast,
'I'm dreaming, dreaming, dreaming, dream!''
'Well, well—Lord Sunasuke, such refined tastes. A bowl of porridge at noon? Will that fill you? Shall I add something heartier?'
'H-hehe, Kazekage-sama, what brings you here!'
Realizing it was no dream, Sunasuke opened his eyes and greeted Saito with an ingratiating smile.
'Heh, a sea breeze—and I've brought you sea cucumber. Come, Lord Sunasuke, I've a hearty dish for you.'
'Hehe, Kazekage-sama, let's skip the hearty dish—my stomach can't take it!'
Loving Book So Far Check Out 40+ Chapters In Advanced At Pa Treon:
patreon.com/FictionsTL